The National tribune., 1887-06-16
THE GRAND ARMY,
News From The DepartmentS---NeW
Posts, etc.
HEADQUARTERS BULLETIN.
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, GAR,
MADISON. WIS. june 10. lssl

Il
MADISON, Wis, June 10, losI
N Tur NATIONAL TRIBUNE accomplishes
one-halr the things attributed TO II by the
prowlers of the press il certainly must occupy
n very enviable place i'm journalism ~ has
managed by good Judgment and attention TO
business TO make itself a fair exponent OF the
survivors of the war of ls6l-5. These men
average over 80 years of age; they are ola
enough 10 have opinions, and have had some
thing TO do with shaping the condition oi our
country; they are old enough 10 determine
what pleases them in the way of newspaper
ms well as anything else. lt does not matter
whether the proprietor OF the paper they prefer
20 read is n SPECTATOR professional man, Tres
byterian. or a claim agent SO lac fairly repre-
SCENTS their ideas rs a class aud gives them IN
his newspaper the worth OF their money.
Since the charter of the first Post OF the
Grand Army of the Republic was sent You a
certified col,y of the same has been received,
from which il appears that two names were
omitted Ina Justice 10 these comrades Their
names are here given as charter members OF
Post No. i, Decatur, III. Their names are }.
T. Bishop and c. Riebsam.
To obtain the present opinion of the G.AR.,
the Commandel-in- Chief and the Pension
Committee have thought wise TO call upon
them 10 express their opinions by vote upon
the following proposed law
A PENSION BILL.
Proposed by the National Committee on Pensions
oi the Grand Army of the Republic:
BE II enacted ~ ne Senate aud House o. Repre-
scMidiireA Of he United htgt0 ~ AHlclcd ah Ton
gross aSseBib al, That IN considering the pension
claims OF dependent parents, the fact aud cause 81
death aud thc tact that tuc soldier lcil NO WIDOW
or minor child children, having been shown hs
required by law. u shall he necessary only 90 show
l,v co,npetsu mud sufficient evidence that such
parent or parents are ur have been without Other
means ol support than their own mammal iaooi OF
the contributions OF others NOT legally bound iol
their support: Proridod That all pensions allowed
under tlis section OF this act shall commence IRON
dale of HcIuul dependence a claim Wac hied prior
sally j, lSsU, und ln case 81 ailllcNliolis Aclt'
after made the pension shall commence Rom the
date oi the filing of the application ln the Ten
sion Office, on nom date oi s"bs, queh dependence
See . That all persons VINO served three months
OF more ln tie military or naval service oil llle
United States during the late war of the rebellion,
aud who have been honorably discharged there
from, aud who are now or who may hereafter be
euflering from mental or physical disability, hO'
the result of their own vicious habits, which totally
incapacilales them for the performance of manual
labor shall upon making due proof of the TACT ac
cording 10 such rules ana regulations hs the Secie
taTy OF the Interior may provide. be placed upon
the list of invalid pensioners of the United States
aud be entitled To receive So per month ahd sun
pension shall commence from the date OF the hlinE
oi the application in the Pension Office after tht
passage OF this act. upon proof that the disability
then existed and shall continue during the exist
ence of the same in the degree herein specified
Provided. That persons who are now receiving pen
pending ia the Pension Office, may. 10y application
10 the Commissioner of Pensions ia such form a'
he may prescribe, receive the benefits oi TINS hct
and nothing herein contained shall ne so con
strued a. 10 prevent any pensioner thereuude
from prosecuting las claim and receiving his pen
sion under any other general or special act; \ Q
uidod, hotCeUeT, That no person shall receive mor'
than one pension for the same period: And pro
gidcd further Tint rank IN the service shall not III
considered in applications filed hereunder
Sec. g. That ii any invalid pensioner has died, OF
shall hereafter die leaving widow, minor chic
children under H. yenIs OF age, Or IN case lher'
be no widow, minor child or children, a depend
ent mother or father, such widow, minor child o
children, mother, or father, shat be placed upoI
the pension roll the rates established by law fo
widows, minor children and parents, without re
gard 10 tse OF death OF such peilsioner: FRO
Vidcd. That the cause OF death of such pensione
or h. not due To violation OF civil or MIN
tary laws or the result of vicious habits Aud pro
cided further, That said widow WAS married TO Tia
deceased iensioner prior 10 the passage Oh TINS ACT
That the increase of pensions for MINOR chlldrei
shall be at the rate OF IS per month instead oi :
per month"; az now provided by law, and Ia case
minor child IL insane ldiotic or otherwise helpless
the pension shall continue during the life OF sal
child or during the period Of such disability.
Sec. a. That any agent attorney, other persO
instrumental la prosecuting any claim under sec
lions o. of this act who shall. directly or ind
rectly, contract for. demand, receive or retain io
his services OF fundamentally IN presenting an
prosecuting such claim, sum greater than Oh
payable only upon the order OF the Commisslone
Of Pensions boy the pension sgent making pay mel
OF the pension allowed. who shall wrongful
withhold from pensioner or claimant the whole q
any part of the pension or claim allowed and du
such pensiOner OF claimant, shall be deemed guilt
of "a niisdemeRnor, aud upon conviction the re-
shall. FOR every such oflense, be fined not excee'
ing $500, or Imprisonment at hard labor not "a
ceeding TWO years or BOTH la the discretion OF Il
court.
See o. That all laws aud parts Of laws which co
lct with the provisions Of this act be, and the san
arc hereby, repealed.